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Scouting for pests: Black vine weevil

Editor’s note: This article is from the archives of the MSU Crop Advisory Team
Alerts. Check the label of any pesticide referenced to ensure your use is
included

Black vine weevil adults do not possess wings, so they cannot fly. (view image)
The adults are active primarily at night and hide during the day in
debris or under plant containers. Adults feed on a wide variety of
herbaceous perennials. The larvae, which are located in the growing
medium, are white and grub-like and feed on plant roots.
Management: Remove plant and growing medium debris from the
area. Contact insecticides with residual activity can be applied to the
foliage in the evening. Beneficial nematodes such as Heterorhabditis bacteriophora may be applied as a drench to individual containers. The nematodes attack and kill the larval stage.
Editor’s note: This information is from the new field guide A Pocket Guide for IPM Scouting in Herbaceous Perennials. For ordering information, call 517-353-6740 or visit: http://www.ipm.msu.edu/pdf/pocketGuidesLandsc07.pd